TE Koontz Sees A Potential Fit At UMD

Dave Lomonico

10/02/2016

The Terps had a pair of tight end recruits on campus Oct. 1, including Boardman High (Youngstown, Ohio) three-star Travis Koontz. The former Bowling Green pledge has held a Maryland offer since May and finally had a chance to make it to College Park, Md., for an unofficial visit.

The Terps had a pair of tight end recruits on campus Oct. 1, including Boardman High (Youngstown, Ohio) three-star Travis Koontz. The former Bowling Green pledge has held a Maryland offer since May and finally had a chance to make it to College Park, Md., for an unofficial visit.

“It was a pretty nice visit. I enjoyed myself down there,” said Koontz, who drove down with his parents. “There were a lot of neat things down there. I liked the campus, the facilities were very nice and the new facilities they’re building are going to be pretty cool. I liked it a lot.”

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Koontz said he thoroughly enjoyed watching Maryland’s 50-7 victory against Purdue. He talked up the UMD fans and also the Terps’ offense.

“The crowd at Maryland was real nice. I really liked the atmosphere,” Koontz said. “And Maryland, they’re a good football thing and they’re going to do big things there. It’s a program moving in the right direction.

“Also, I liked the way the offense worked and how they use their tight ends. They flex their tight ends out and they put them in tight. That’s what I do too; I can play out wide and I can block. So I liked that about the offense.”

After the game, Koontz spoke to head coach D.J. Durkin, area recruiter Andy Buh and tight ends coach Pete Lembo.

“Basically they told me I would be a good fit at Maryland. I enjoyed talking to them and they all seemed like good guys,” Koontz said. “Coach Durkin, we were sort of bonding because he’s from Youngstown and went to Boardman High too. He was saying how he’d love to have a hometown guy playing for him (laughs). So that was pretty cool.

“And Coach Buh, we talk like every day. He’s a really good guy and he’s been on me. It was good to meet him in person and talk to him again too.”

Now, after seeing College Park once, Koontz wants to come back for an official. He doesn’t have a set date yet, but said the trip would likely be later in October or early November.

The question is, however, if Maryland’s staff will be ready to accept Koontz’ pledge should be want in. The Terps have one tight end already committed and have offers out to numerous others, including Blake Williams (Canada Prep/St. Catharines, Ontario), who was also at UMD Oct. 1.

“The coaches really didn’t talk about that,” Koontz said in reference to where he sits on the Terps’ board. “I really can’t say right now.”

In addition to Maryland, Koontz is also taking a look at Toledo, which he’ll be officially visiting later in October.

Koontz counts offers from Ohio, Iowa State and Cincinnati too, but said those three sit behind the Terps and Rockets in the pecking order.

The Boardman product expects to have his recruitment finalized before the end of his senior season.